Automatic line forming machine



May 2, 1950 G. H. NORQUIST AUTOMATIC LINE FORMING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 3, 1944 INVENTOR.

May 2, 1950 G. H. NORQUIST 5 3 AUTOMATIC LINE FORMING MACHINE Filed 001:. 5, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 M WWW INVENTOR. file/m .65 fl/brqazlsf y 1950 G. H. NORQUIST 2,505,788

AUTOMATIC LINE FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 l l I l I l B ZAQQ QMM/ May 2, 1950 G. H. NORQUIST ,505,788

AUTOMATIC LINE FORMING MACHINE Filed 001;. 3, 1944 a Sheets-Sheet 4 JZZ'f-ZI IHMIm INVENTOR.

61am 1% Marquis! May 2, 1950 e. H. NORQUIST AUTOMATIC LINE FORMING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 5, 1944 f 3 0 0 F Mr 0 w, 1 a H 4 m. M 2 7 64 W I \v M -4 M fl 1 mm 1 a M m w m 1 j 2 J at 6,1,2 i 6 H MWWWW HTTC IP/VE) May 2, 1950 G. H. NORQUIST AUTOMATIC LINE FORMING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed 001;. 3, 1944 INVENTOR.

film/ 1K lVwymlr/ BY v HTI'OEWEY I y 1950 G. H. NORQUIST 2,505,788

AUTOMATIC LINE FORMING MACHINE INTO/{NE Y May 2, 1950 G. H. NORQUIST AUTOMATIC LINE FORMING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Oct. 5, 1944 INVENTOR.

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@lengtl 1.and,spacing, without reliance upon the skill of the operator.

Patented May 2, 1950 STATES. PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC LINE Glenn H; Norquist; Jamestown, Applicationflctober 3, 19.44, SerialgNo. 557,020 I (oi. 90 n i 17 Claims.

This invention relates :ing machines, and more particularly to an improved machine designed to perform grooving,

cutting, grinding, welding and other line operations of predetermined length and spacing on various materials and work-pieces with accuracy and precision and at high production speeds with a minimum of attention by the operator.

Various articles; manufactured. from sheets or panels of wood, plywood, fiberboard, plastics, metal and various composition materials often require strip or line operations thereon of predetermined length and spacing. For example, it. is often desirable to form grooves 0r cuts in. work-pieces or materials. which are of predetermined length, or which terminate a spaced. distance from the endsof the work-piece, or which areiof; intermittent length, orv whoseends are spaced apart a.v predetermined distance.

Such operations have been customarily performed by the use of hand tools, or by carefully plotting and laying out by the location and length of the. grooves, cuts, or line operations to peapertormed, following which the workmenimust carefulliyglli e; and control the work tool along ,thepreviously prepareddemarcations. on the work-piece. The: accuracy of suohuline operationsv depend on the skill-fend alertness... ofjthe operator, and in; normal production operations inaccuracies often occur whichTresult inconsiderable. discarded materiaL.

In accordance with this invention, animproved automatic machine is provided to. which the. ole-- led. erg ns, u ti g, saw n r nding, 'w. 1d-

w rk tool into and'out' of operative contactwith work-pieceso that the line operations to-be or nedon the workpiece are accuratein In this machine the. work tool is under the s ntroior amechanism associated. with the mae, which, mechanismis so constructed and Arranged as to manipulate the work tool in accordance with the travel of the work-piecev itself, or by some other'object; which travels With :rthe; work-piece, For example, the. control mechanism may. be so arranged and adjusted as. to .jna nipulate the work tool away from the work during a predetermined, travel of the'work-piece ad-jaoent thework tool, and then automatically ma pulatetool into working engageth the work piece,. until the work-piece to automatic line formt I erworkhead or, tooll'n 'aybe attached, and which operates to automatically, move the curacy and precision, and at high produc 2., The control mechanism. is also adapted. to be manipulated by l object which travels along with the work-piece, such asjmeans assQGiated with a traveling, conveyor upon which the workpieces are supported and advanced.

The control mechanism is operatively connected to power means, such. as. a compressed, ai cylinder and pist,on,.which serves. to manipulat the work too! into and out of operative position. Thus the controlrnechanism, which ismanipulated in accordance with the travel off'the work-piece, controls. the operation of. th p we means which in turn manipulates the. worktool. The machine is soconstructed and designed as to be immediately. responsive to the travel of the work piece and to instantaneously bring the work tool into and out of its operative position with respect to the work-pieqe, during its travelunder theworktooly theause -a a hine onstr c d i accordance. with s in n ion srqoyes, cu s, ine we s, and numerous other line operations can be performed on Worki ces o var ou or s witnescu acy and reci i n i ou ian e u on t skill and care of'the. operator, with the attainment of high speed of. production at relatively low cost and substantiallywithout loss or waste of material normallyflresulting from inaccurately performed work.

An. object o t s inve ti n is o o i e an improved machine for automatically performing grooving, cutting, weldin striping, and other line operations on various work-pieces with action speed bvre et vely unsk ed bd Another object. of this invention is to provide an automatic machine. to which work-tools, such as grooving, sw ne. rindin an sen n whee weld n head and t t ei devices .Jm be attached, which. has associated therewith control mechanism for automatically manipulating such work tool in" a predetermined manner'int'o and out. of working contact with the work-piece during its travelin the path of the work tool.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved automaticmachine designed to manipulate a work tool into and out of'operative encurate predetermined length and spacing may be performed on a work-piece.

Other objects, and advantages or this. im m tion will become apparent as the disclosure pro.- .q e

Although the, Qbhiacteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine equipped with a rotary grooving tool and a feed table associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine and associated feed table shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with the feed table shown in the immediate background;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine, certain parts being shown in cross-section to illustrate certain structural features thereof;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the machine with certain parts thereof shown in cross-section to illustrate further details thereof;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the machine, certain parts being broken away to illustrate further structural details thereof;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view showing the lower portion of the machine, and particularly the position of certain operating parts of the control mechanism as the work-piece moves into position;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of the machine showing the position of the control mechanism as the cutting operation rogresses;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of the machine showing the position of 'the control mechanism when the cutting operation has been completed;

Fig. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the lower portion of the machine as it appears when viewed along line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a fra mentary portion of a panel or work-niece illustratin v a groove and a out line formed therein by the automatic machine in which the groove and out line are substantially continuous but terminate short lof theends of the panel:

" Fig.1 12 .is a perspective view of a panel or wo k-ni ce showing intermittent grooves and intermittent cuts formedtherein by the automatic machine forming the subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 13 is a ton e evational view of the automatic m chine having a belt conveyor associated therewith for advancing the work-nie es, the

convevor having means coo erating with the control m chanism associated with the machine for regu at n t e len th and spacing of the grooves or cuts formed in the work-niece;

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the auto- .matic feed conveyor shown in Fi v 13 with the associ ted automatic machine illustrated in the immediate background;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the under surface of the conveyor belt operating belts for feeding and advancing the Y work-pieces under the work tool;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the co operating feed belts and work-pieces advancing mechanism shown in Fig. 1'7;

19 is a perspective view of a circular saw which may comprise the work tool adapted for attachment to the machine;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a rotary grinding or sanding wheel comprising another work tool adapted for attachment to the machine;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a Welding head comprising a work tool adapted for attachment to the machine; and

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a striping brush comprising a work tool adapted for attachment to the machine.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and specification.

The automatic machine of this invention is designed to perform cutting, grooving, sawing, or similar straight line operations on workpieces of various sorts, particularly relatively fiat work-pieces, by attachment to the machine of an appropriate work tool. Work-pieces or panels of almost any material may be operated upon, and particularly such materials as wood, plywood, fiberboard, metal, or a combination of one or more such materials. If a groove 9 is to be cut from the work-piece p, a suitable rotary grooving tool T is used. Where the work-piece is to be cut, a suitable rotary saw 'I' of the type adapted to cut the work-piece material is selected. By the use of a work tool the nature of a welding head T a grinding wheel T or striping instrument T operations such as seam welding, grinding or strip coating may be performed on the work-piece. It is therefore understood that where the word grooving or cutting" is used, such term is intended to embrace other operations which this automatic machine is adapted to perform by attachment of the appropriate work tool thereto.

The machine constituting this invention is particularly characterized by control mechanism activated by the movement of the work-piece to regulate and control the work tool, and particularly to control the movement of the work tool into and out of operating engagement with the work-piece as the work-piece advances under the work tool whereby line operations may be performed on the work-piece of any desired length, or intermittent spacing. As shown in Fig. 11, for example, a work-piece or panel p is shown having a groove g and a saw cut s therein spaced a predetermined distance (a and b) from the encls of the panel. Fig. 12 illustrates a panel 73 having a series of aligned grooves g and cuts 3 whose ends are spaced apart a predetermined distance 0. These operations can be performed by the use of this machine with accuracy and precision and at high production speeds by a relatively unskilled operator.

As illustrative of this invention, there is shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the automatic cutting machine A having associated therewith a simple form of feed table B for supporting the workpiece or panel 10. For the purpose of illustration only, the work tool is shown as comprising a grooving wheel '1", but it will be appreciated that a circular saw T welding head T grinding wheel T or striping tool T may be used.

The automatic cutting machine A comprises a base plate or table I00 supported upon suitable legs ml, the table having a reenforcing frame I03 extending around the same. Certain operdtlngl partsof the machine. are supported upon a pair of spaced parallel extending bed frames I04 and I05 which if desired may be formed integrally with the table I60. The work tool may be supported upon the end of a work shaft I, and

if the work tool is of the driven or rotary type, a drive pulley or sheave 2 may be attached as by a spline 2' to the end of the shaft I. The sheave 2 may be driven by V-belts 3 trained over the drive sheave of a motor 4, which may be supported upon the table I00.

The work shaft I which supports the work tool i'ssmounted for vertical swinging movement about a fixed shaft 5, the shaft 5 being secured in raised shoulders I I1! formed on the bed frames I04 and I05, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1. A sleeve 6 is journalled to swing or rotate on the fixed shaft 5 which extends therethrough. A pair of spaced arms I are attached at one end thereof to the sleeve E5. permanently fixed to the other end of the spaced arms T. The work shaft I may be rotatably supported within the barrel housing 8 by means of rollerbearings comprising a fixed bearing sleeve 9- fixed to the interior surface of the housing 8, and a rotatable bearing sleeve Ii} which grips the shaft I, roller bearings It moving in raceways between the fixed bearing sleeve 9 and the rotatable bearing sleeve It]. A cap plate II is screwed on to each end of the barrel housing 8 g;

and serves to keep the bearings in position and retain lubrication.

The work tool illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10 in- -clusi've is a rotary driven grooving tool '1" of standard design having cutting arms I2 present in tapered cutting ends [2. The tool is attached tothe endof a polygonal shaped stub shaft [3 which is adapted to be inserted into a correspondingly shaped socket in the end of the work shaft I, so as to positively rotate therewith, the stub shaft I3 being further held in position by a set screw l4. The rotary work tool may be secured to the end of the stub shaft I3 by a suitable cap screw I4.

It will be noted that the barrel housing 8 which supports the work tool and the work shaft I contained in the housing is normally free to swing orpivot about the fixed shaft 5; Means are provided to normally maintain the work tool l2 in spaced relation to the work-piece p by a coil compression spring I5, whose lower end rests upon the table top It!) and is secured thereto by a fastening element I5, the upper end of the coil spring I5 being attached to a fastening element I5""fixed to the under surface of the barrel housing-B between the ends thereof. The compression spring I5 normally serves" to exert a predetermined lifting force on the barrel housing 8, so as to maintain the work shaft l journalled therein in normally raised position so that the work tool attached to" the end of the shaft I is raised out of working contact with the work-piece 10.

Means are provided, actuated as by compressed air, for forcing the barrel housing 8 downwardly against the action of the compression spring l5, so. as to press the work tool into operating contact with the work. As shown more particularly in Fig; 5, a supporting standard 3'3 is provided which extends vertically from the table I03 and between the spacedpivot arms I. An air cylinder 26 is secured to the'standard Mac by means of screws 34. An. air piston is arranged to reciprocate in the air cylinder 26, the air piston 25 having a nose 2'! projecting from the lower end thereof adapted tb' press against a strutp'late' 28 whichextends A barrel housing 8 is between and is permanently secured to the spaced pivot arms I.

The upper end of the cylinder 25 is closed by a cylinder head 29 which has an air passage 30 extending therethrough. A header piece 3| is attached to the cylinder head 29 by an attaching bolt to provide a leak-proof connection. The header piece 35 has an air passage 32 therein, which leads to the air passage 3c in the cylinder head The header piece 3i may be provided with a threaded nipple 36, which is threaded into and extends through the standard 33 and through the wall of an air control sleeve 45.

The upper end of the air control sleeve has threaded thereto a valve head 4I which has an air passage 3 therein leading to the interior of the control sleeve ii). The valve head 4| has projecting therefrom an air hose attaching nipple M, which is provided with an air passage which leads to the air passage G3 inside the valve head. An air hose d2 may be attached or secured to the nipple id by any suitable clamping device.

The air pressure and the Volume of air flowing into the control sleeve iii may be controlled by a needle valve at having a pointed end adapted to be adjusted in relation to a valve seat 5% provided on the interior of the valve head 4|. The valve needle it is provided with a stem 41 having a threaded portion 38, which threads into the body of the valve head so that the valve stem i! can be manipulated by means of a handle 49 attached thereto. A sealing cap 50 surrounds the valve stem ii, the sealing cap having a threaded flange which permits the same to be attached in airtight arrangement to the valve head it, and prevents the escape of air through the valve head along the needle stem.

It is now seen that compressed air may be admitted from the hose line 42- into the valve head' il, the air then flowing through the con tro'l sleeve 453, through passage 32 in the header piece 3!, and thence through passage 30 in the cylinder head 29, and into the cylinder 25 where the compressed air would normally operate to drive the piston head 25 downwardly. Movement of air into the passage 32 of the header piece 3!" is controlled by a valve piston 55, which reciprocates in the control sleeve 40, so as to close off or admit air into the mouth of passage 32 in the header piece 3|. The valve piston 55 is in turn operated by control mechanism, which is. actuated by travel of the work-piece under the work tool I2, as will now be more fully described.

The piston valve 55 reciprocating in the control sleeve ii is attached to the upper end of a control rod 5!. A guide 52 is attached to the upper end of the rod 5! immediately below the valve piston 55 and is shaped to have a smooth sliding fit within the control sleeve 38. The com trol rod 5i also carries a stop collar 5'I which normally abuts the lower end of the control sleeve it. A coil compression spring 55 extends around a section of the control rod 5!, the upper end of the coil spring 55 abutting against the collar 51, and the lowerend thereof resting on a fixed collar 58 permanently secured to the vertical standard 53. The rod 5! is free to reciprocate in the collar 58, but the coil spring 55 normally retains the stop collar 57! seated against thelower end of the control sleeve 48, in which position the valve piston 55 blocks off passage of air in the control sleeve 49 so that no air can pass into the passage 32 of the header piece SI, and into the air cylinder 26. However, when a suflicient downward force or pull is applied to the Vertical control rod i, the coil spring 56 may be compressed sufliciently to carry the valve piston 55 below the mouth of the air passage 32 in the header piece 31, and thus permit compressed air to freely flow through the control sleeve 0 and into the air passage 32 in the header piece 3|, and thence into the air cylinder 25. The control mechanism for exerting a downward pulling force on the control rod 5! will now be described.

A shown more particularly in Figs. 4, 6 and 10, a shelf Hi6 projects laterally from the bed frame I535 of the machine. The shelf I95 provides means to which the control mechanism presently to be described may be attached. An angle shaped plate has one leg I98 thereof attached to the shelf IilS as by means of bolts or screws I09 and a downwardly projecting leg Hi! which supports the control mechanism. The control mechanism comprises a pivot bar 65, one end of which is pivotally attached to the downwardly extending leg He by means of a suitable pivot pin 66. The other end of the bar 55 is free to swing between spaced bolts or studs 68 and 69, which are secured to the supporting leg iii A spaced plate 61 is secured to and extends between the studs or bolts 68 and 69, so as to maintain the free end of the bar 65 in operative position between the bolts or studs 63 and 59. laterally extending bar Si is fixedly and rigidly secured to the lower end of the control rod 5i, as shown more particularly in Figs. 4, 5, 6, '7 and 8. The free end of the horizontal control bar 64 extends underneath the edge of pivoted bar 65. The free end of the horizontal control bar 64 may be provided with a fulcrum point 53, which is normally in engagement with the notched edge 62 of the pivot bar 65. A suitable aperture 8 I I is cut into the leg I It through which the end of the horizontal control bar 64 extends. It will now be noted that by exerting downward pressure on the pivot bar 65, this pivot bar can be brought to rest against the lower stud S8, and simultaneously downward pressure is exerted on the horizontal control bar 64 so as to draw the control rod 5! downwardly. and move the valve piston 55 thereto attached below the mouth of the air passage 32 in the head piece 3|.

Means are provided for exerting downward pressure upon the pivoted bar 85, so as to permit compressed. air to flow into the air cylinder 26, which means is au omaically operated by the travel of the work-piece under the work tool i2. As shown more particu arly in Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, a rocker bar It is attached at the midsection thereof to a fulcrum plat ll whose lower end is pivotally secured by means of a pivot pin 12 to the pivot bar 65 at a point intermediate the ends thereof and under the work tool. The rocker bar it is normal y held in tilted position, as shown in Fig. 5, by means of a coil spring 13, one end of which is attached to the rocker bar 10, and the other end attached to the pivot bar 65. A pair of tracking wheels 75 and '15 are each rotatably mounted on a stud Ti, one end of which extends through an elongated slot it formed in each end of the rocker bar it). The tracking Wheels '55 and 16 are positioned at opposite sides of the fulcrum plate H and can be adjusted to any desired spaced relationship by moving the stud shafts ll along the slots 74. The stud shafts Tl, which support the tracking wheels, ma be fixed in desired spaced relationship by manipulating a lock nut 18 attached thereto.

It will thus be noted that the rocker bar 10, and its associated tracking wheels 15 and T6, are directly supported upon the pivot lever 65 and until a predetermined downward pressure is exerted on both the tracking wheels 15 and 16, the pivot lever 6'5 is maintained in the position shown in Figs. 7 or 9, in which position the free end of th pivot lever 65 abuts a ainst the upper stud bolt 69. If desired, a coil tension spring 19 may be provided to retain th pivot lever 55 in its raised position, one end of the coil spring I9 being attached to the pivot lever 65 and the other end thereof attached to the depending flange III], which forms a part of the machine frame work.

It will be further noted that the advance t; ackingwheel i5 is normally held at a higher elevation than the following tracking wheel 16 by the light coil spring 13. When downward pressure is exerted only on the advance tracking wheel 15, the rocker bar it is tilted in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. '7, against the action of the coil spring '53 so as to depress the advance wheel 5 and raise the following wheel 15. The tilting of the rocker bar it in the manner indicated may be accomplished without depressing th free end of the pivot bar 55. However, if a predetermined downward pressure is exerted on both the tracking wheels '55 and 26, as by means of an object passing thereover, a downward force will be exerted against the pivot bar 55 so as to bring the free end thereof into abutment with the lower stop stud 88, as shown in Fig. 8, and this movement of the pivot bar 55 will exert a correspondingdownward thrust on the horizontal control bar 64 sufiicient to pull the control rod 5| downwardly against the action of the coil compression spring 55, and thus locate the valve piston 55 attached to the end of the control rod 5i below the mouth of the air passage 32 in the header piece 3|. Downward pressure may be exerted on the tracking wheels 75 and it either b the passage of the work-piece over the tracking wheels, or by. the provision of an undulating track associated with a traveling conveyor, which advances the work-pieces under the work tool. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 1,0, the work-piece l is positioned to travel over the tracking wheels 15 and 76 in the manner to exert the desiIed pressure on the tracking Wheels l5 and 16, so as to manip ulate the control rod 5| in the desired manner. As for example in Fig. '7, th work-piece p com.- prising a fiat panel is shown in the process of being advanced under thte work tool T, the front end of the panel resting upon and depressing the advance tracking wheel '55, the advancing end of the work-piece panel 12 having not yet contacted or depressed the following tracking wheel 16. When the tracking wheels 15 and T6 are in the position shown in Fig. 7, the pivot bar 65 has not been depressed and the valve piston 55 has not been manipulated to admit compressed air into the air cylinder 23. Consequently, the compression spring I5, which supports the barrel housing 8, is maintained in its full raised posit ion with the work tool I! out of contact with the work-.' piece.

However, when the advance end of the workpiece 10 has been advanced sufiiciently to contact and depress the following tracking wheel 76 in the manner shown in Fig. 8, the tracking wheels 75 and I6 have been levelled off to track along the under surface of the panel work-piece p and depress the pivot bar 65. The moment the pivot bar 65 has been depressed in the manner shown in Fig. 8, the control rod 5| pulls the valve piston 55 attached to the end thereof below the mouth capt ves of "the air passage 32 int-he header piece 31, thereby admitting "compressed air to the air cylinder 26, which exerts pressure on the strut block 28, forcing the barrel housing '8 downwardly against the action of its supporting com pressionspring 15, thereby bringing the work tool into operative engagement with the work-piece p. The work tool I2 is maintained in condition to operate at all times, and if the work tool is a ro-- tating tool, it is kept constantly rotating by driving .motor 4. Therefore the moment the work tool I2 is brought into operating relation with respect to the work-piece p, the desired grooving, cutting, welding, or lining operation which the work tool is equ pped to perform, proceeds. It will be'noted that the relative spacing of the tracking wheels 15 and 16 determines the beginning point of the line operation. For ex ample, Where a rotary grooving or rotary cutting tool is used, the relative spacing of the follow ng tracking wheel 16 from the pivot plate i-l determines the distance a, as shown in Fig.- 11, where the grooving or cutting operation is to begin in relation to the advance end of the panel work-piece.

hspanel work-piece'p is continuously advanced under the work tool the desired line operat on is performed on the work-piece. If the line operation is to terminate a distance b from the trailing'end of the panelwor'k-piece p, the ad- Vance tracking wheel is so positioned in reference to the -pivot plate as to move out of engagement with the trailing end of the panel "workpiece when the work oo? reached a predetermined distance b from the trailing end of the Work-piece. As shown in Fig. 9, for example, the trailing end o' th panel work-piece 1) has vanced beyond advance tracking wheel so that the rocker arm 10 is permitted to tilt under the influence of coil spring 13, thereby releasing the downward pressure on the pivot bar 65 .so that the coil spring 56 is free to raise the control rod and move the valve piston 55 at the end thereoi' above the mouth of the air passage 32 in the header piece 3|, thereby closing 011 further movement of compressed air into the air cylinder 26, "and permittzng the escape of compressed air from the cylinder 26 out through the blow hole at in the control sleeve 60. It Will be noted that the blow hole 5% is closed on by the valve piston when the valve piston has been moved below the mouth or the air passage 32 in the header piece 3i, so that compressed air can only escape Irorn the air cylinder when the Valve piston i been raised to a position above the mouth or the air passage :12 in the header p.ece 3|. When air pressure has been removed irom the air m on 25., the coil spring to which supports the barrel housing so immediately raises the barrel housing 8 to its norm-any raised position the work tool is raised. out or contact wltn the work-piece p. shifting the advance tracking wheel is) along its supporting slot is, the end of the line operation may be terminated at any desired predetermined distance D from the trailing end of the workpiece 20.

The depth of the groove g or out may be regulated and controlled by placing a corresponding limitation on the downwardmovement of the air piston 25. For example, the lower end of the air cylinder as may be provided with an inwardly extending lip ill] in which a set screw Si is threaded. A cavity 92 is provided in the lower end or the air piston 25 into which the threaded shank of the set screw 9| extends. When the air l0 piston 2-5 is under the influence 'of compressed air and has been forced to its extreme downward position, the upper wall 93 of the cavity '92 will rest against the upper end of the set screw :91. By suitable adjustment of the set screw 9|, the

' downward stroke of the air piston 25 may be regulated and determined. The air piston 25 reaches its extreme upper stroke when the upper end of the air piston strikes the abutments t3 projecting inwardly from the interior wall of the air cylinder 2:5. The compression spring which supports the barrel housing 8 is sufficiently strong to :norrnally maintain the ar piston 25, when not under the influence of compressed air, in its exagainst the work-piece to perform the desiredline operation is regulated and controlled by themessure of the compressed air which is exerted against the upper end of the air pston 25. This air pressure is controlled by'a suitable adiustment of th va ve stem 46 by means of the needle valve handle 49.

Where the worlr=--piece itself is used as a means to pivot the rocking bar it, which supports the tracking rollers and 1 a feed tabl in a form more particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 mav be convenientl used. This feed table may comprise a table top su ported upon suitable legs L21. The table top 25] may be somewhat longer+han the length of the table I00 of the line forming rrachfine A, so that a side edge of feed table overhangs the shelf I06 of the line forming machine A, as shown more particu la lyi'n Fi s. 1, 2 and 6. The feed table I may e rfrovifledwith an a erture I through which the t ackin roll -rs i and 73 may extend so th t they freely. track along the panel wor ko as the work-niece is moved along 'the't'o'p sur-a'ce of the feed table I23.

The feed table 26 may be provided with suitable spaced guide strips I22 and E23 for guiding the workpiece panel 13 during its advance move merit therebetween. The guide strips I22 and lit may be adjustabiy secured to the tabletop ill} by means of bolts r25, which extend through transverse slots I25 in the guide strips. Thus the guide strips may be spaced apart the desired distance necessary to conveniently accommodate and guide the Work-piece panel 12 therebetween.

It will be seen that the line formation may be applied to the work-piece panel p any desired distance irorn the side edges thereof by adjusting the position of the work tool the desired distance a: from the side edge of the panel. This setting of the work tool is accomplished by Lin-loosening the set screw i t so as to perm-it the tool shank iii to be telescoped to the desired location in the socket formation of work shaft l, thereafter re; setting the set screw I l to maintain the work tool in the desired position with respect to the side edge of the work-piece panel 12. It will be apprethe guide strips and H3 so that the panel 11 therebetween is advanced under the work tool at the desired angle with reference to the work tool.

.It will be appreciated that the work table B, as above described, and the line forming machine A are preferably secured to the plant floor in the desired cooperating relationship with respect to each other, so that the line operations may be continuously performed at a high reduction rate, and with accuracy and precision.

To further speed up production operations, a continuous feed conveyor B' may be associated with the line forming machine A. For purpose of illustration, there is shown in Figs. l3, l4 and 16, one type of feed conveyor which may be used for continuously advancing the work piece-panel p into operating relation with respect to the work tool attached to the line forming machine. The continuous belt conveyor here shown may comprise a suitable table frame I50 supported on legs or pedestals I5I which rest on the factory floor. A pair of continuous spaced link chains I52 are trained over a pair of large sprocket wheels I53 at the feed end of the conveyor and over a pair of large sprocket wheels I54 at the discharge end of the conveyor. Sprockets I53 at the feed end of the conveyor are secured to a shaft I55 rotatably mounted in bearing blocks i56 secured to the adjacent legs or pedestals I5I of the conveyor. The sprockets I53 may be driven by a pulley I 51 fixed to the projecting end of the sprocket shaft II5, V belts I58 being trained around the pulley I51 and around pulley I59 attached to the shaft of the driving motor I65. The sprockets I54 at the discharge end of the machine are fixed to a suitable shaft I6I rotatably mounted in bearing blocks I52 attached to the adjacent supporting legs I5I at the discharge end of the conveyor.

A continuous conveyor belt I55, which may be formed of fabric, rubber, belt forming slats, or any other suitable material, rests upon and is secured to and supported by spaced conveyor chains I 52, as shown more particularly in Fig. 15. Securing plates I66 fixed to and forming an integral part of the chain links may be provided with means for securing the belt I55 to the spaced conveyor chain I52. It will be appreciated that this conveyor belt I 55 may be constructed in any desired manner sufiicient to support and advance the work-pieces p into and out of operating relationship with respect to the work tool.

It will be noted by referring more particularly to Figs. 13 and 16, that one side edge of the conveyor belt extends under the work tool so that the work-piece 1) supported thereon may be brought into proper operating relationship with respect to the work tool. 7

The table frame I 55 of the conveyor B may be so arranged, as shown in Fig. 16, as to further assist in supporting the adjacent side edges of the conveyor belt I55. Guide strips I16 and I'll secured to the table frame I55, as by adjustable bolts II2, may be provided to guide the workpiece panel 11 advancing therebetween.

The tracking rollers I5 and I6, which control the position of the work tool I2, may be manipulated by the provision of track forming segments I15 attached to the underside of the conveyor belt I65, and so arranged as to provide a track on which the tracking rollers '15 and I5 may roll as the conveyor belt advances. The tracking block segments II5 may be removably secured in. any desired manner to the underside of the belt I55, and may be arranged to provide track sections of any desired length and spacing. The

upper face of the belt is provided with stop strips I76 adjustably and removably secured to the belt in any desired manner, so as to maintain the work-piece panel p placed on the belt in fixed position as the panels p are advanced thereon. The track segments Ii5 are secured to the underside of the belt in proper relation to the work-piece panel p super-imposed immediately thereover so that the tracking rollers I5 and IE will roll onto, along and off the track segments so as to produce the desired motion to the rocking bar i8, which in turn manipulates the valve control rod 5I. Thus it will be appreciated that by providing track sections formed by the track segments II5 of the desired length and spacing, that vertical manipulation of the work tool into and out of operative position can be accurately and precisely gauged and controlled, care being taken that the workpiece panels p are located and held by strips I'IG upon the feed belt in proper relation to the track sections on the underside of the belt.

In most production operations it will be appreciated that a large number of work-piece panels of the same length are to be operated on, so that once the track segments I15 and the panel holding strips II6 have been properly 10- cated and adjusted, the entire production run can be made without further adjustment of these parts. Obviously various difierent devices may be employed for movably retaining the track segments I15 to the conveyor belt I65. By forming track sections from segments II5 as illustrated, it will be appreciated that the belt may be run along the curvilinear path defined by the sprocket wheels I53 and I54, and the supporting chains I52 trained thereon, without causing distortion or imposing undue strains on the belt.

By the provision of track sections to the underside of the conveyor belt which serve to manipulate the tracking rollers I5 and I6, it will be appreciated that line formations may be imposed upon the work-piece panel of any desired length and spacing. As illustrative of the various line operations which can be performed, there is shown in Fig. 11 a section of a work-piece panel 1) having a groove g cut therein by means of a rotary grooving tool T applied to the work shaft I, the advance end of the groove 9 being spaced an accurate predetermined distance a from the advancing end of the panel, the opposite end of the groove 9 being spaceda predetermined distance b from the trailingend of the panel. By the use of a work tool comprising a rotary sawv T attached to thework shaft I.of the machine, a saw cut s may be formed in the panel, whose advance end is spaced a desired predetermined distance a from the advance end of the panel its trailing end being spaced a desired predetermined distance b from the trailing end of the panel.

By the use of a continuous conveyor of the type B as shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 16, the track sec-. tions can be arranged on the belt so that the work tool will form intermittent grooves 9, cuts 8, or other intermittent line operations, which are spaced apart a desired predetermined distances 0, as illustrated in the panel section shown in Fig. 12. It will be appreciated that by providing track sections of the proper length and proper spacing, and by locating the work-piece panel on the belt in proper relationto the track sections, the tracking rollers I5 and I6 may be manipulated to bring the work tool into and out of engagement with the work-piece so as to form line operations thereon of any desired length and spacing. It will also'be appreciated that by adlusting the position of the guide zstrips I22 and IP23, the worlr-piece panel maybe .guided therebetween in a manner to perform line operations extending at valmost any desired angle with re..- spect to the side edge of the panel. The line of operation may be spaced any desired distance from the side edge of the panel by adjusting the position of the stud shaft l3 of the work tool in the socket provided in the work shaft I.

There is shown in Figs. 17 and 18 a feed belt mechanism which may be associated with the automatic cutting machine A operative to posi-. tively advance the work-pieces under the work tool. In the arrangement here shown the workpieces p may rest upon suitable tracks or supports, such as an outer rail 199 and an inner rail I91. The feeding mechanism here shown comprises a lower feed belt 260 and an upper feed belt 215 arranged so that the work-piece is gripped between the upper run of the lower feed belt 2.529 and the lower-run of the upper feed belt 2l5 The lower feed belt 280 is trained around spaced idling rollers 28! and 262 each journalled llll n a suitable stub-shaft 28-3. The stub-shafts 2-03 are supported by a horizontal extending bar 29 3 f xed at each end thereof to a stud bolt 285 projecting laterally from the downwardly extending flange H0 of the machine. The supporting bar 2% is also provided with an offset portion 20.6 formed integrally therewith, which supports a stub shaftl 2B8 upon which a third belt pulley 21H is rotatably mounted. Thus the lower feed belt? I is tautly trained around the guide pulleys 291, 202 and 2M, in a manner so that the upper run thereof provides a support upon which the worke piece. may rest.

Thelulq r feed belt 2H5 is trained around a pair. of spaced pulleys 2l5 and 2H which maintain the lower run of the belt 2l5 in substantial parallelism with the upper run of the lower feed belt 290 so as to gripthe work-piece therebetween. Theupper feed belt 2I5 is held tautjby a pulley 2! which also drives th s feed belt; As shown more particularly in Fig. 1'7, the pulley 2!!! is fixed toa horizontally extending shaft 219 rotatablyv mounted in a sleeve 22a. The sleeve 22s is supported upon a pair of spaced bracket arms 22! whose ends are fixed to a sleeve 223 journalled on a pinion shaft 224 fixed. to thebed frames IM of the machine. pulley wheel 225ar0und which a drive belt 226 is trained. The. pulley wheel 225 is driven by a motor 235, which may be supported upon the topof the table [0.0, by means of a suitable speed rcducer arrangement illustrated in simple form Driven shaft2l9 also carries a more particularly in Fig. 17. As shown; drive belt,

may be trained around a small diameter pulley 22'lrotatab1y mounted on a stub-shaft 228. o e end of which is fixed in a fitting 230 supported by a bracket rel fixed to the table top me by suitable bolts 232. A larger pulley wheel 229 is fixed to the smaller pulley wheel 22'! and is rotatably, mounted on the stub-shaft 228. A drive belt. 233is trained around the largerpulley wheel 229, and also around a smaller pulley wheel 234 fixed to the shaft 235 of the driving motor 236. By means of the'drive mechanism abovedescribed, it wil l be noted that the driven shaft- 2w and the lllllerrffifi i l 215 m y bed i n at the de r speed sothatthe lower run of'the, upper feedhclt 21 5. will grip the workpiece and advance the work-piece. under the work tool T- at the desired .-;s.ecuredtose mentin pin.

' J'ecting leg 25 I.

. whch is pivotally mounted on a stud pin 241;

14 238 fixed to the sleeve 220 which supports the driven shaft 2l9.

The guide pulleys 2H5 and 2H for the upper feed belt 2l5 are so mounted and arranged as to exert a predetermined pressure upon the lower run of the feed belt 215, so that this lower run will grip the work-piece and advance the work-piece at the same speed as the belt. The lower feed belt 20.0 is not driven, but when the upper'run thereof is in gripping contact with the work-piece, the upper run of the belt 20!! will advance parallel with and at the same speed as the lower run-of the upper feed belt 215. The work-piece is advanced in the direction or the arrow 222, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, until the advance end thereof is gripped between the adjacent runs of the feed belts zoo and ii-5, and is then advanced between these belts at the same traveling speed as the upper belt until discharged upon the spaced trackways I90 and I91.

The guide pulley 2 l 1 is rotatably mounted upona stub-shaft 243 fixed to a V-shaped bracket 244 ally extending leg 246. leg '246is swingably mounted upon a stud pin 2141 projecting from a horizontal extend ng framemember 242. The frame member 242 is supported at each end thereof by a laterally extending arm 241, one end of which is fixed to a bracket 240' supported upon and fixed to the table top I 00 of the machine. The belt pulley 2l6 is likewise rotatably supported upon a stub-shaft 253 pro-- jecting from a V-shaped bracket 2453 having an upwardly projecting leg 25c and a laterally pro- The laterally projecting leg 25! is swingably supported from a suitable stud pin 252 laterally projecting from the horizontal extending supporting bar 242.

Thus it will be noted that the belt pulley-2l6 is adapted to rise and fall with the vertically swinging movement of the laterally extending leg 25l of the V-bracket 249, and similarly. belt pulley 2H- is adapted torise and fall with the swinging movement of the leg 24%- of V-braoket 244' predetermined downward pressure, however, is

exerted upon the upwardly extending leg" 2M) of' v bracket' 244 and the upwardl extending leg 254 of V-bracket 249; so that the belt pulleys-2 I 'l and 216 which they carry will exert a predetermined" downward pressure upon the lower run of the upper driven feed belt 215. It will be noted that the horizontal extending supporting bar2l2- is provided with a pair ofraised lugs 255, eachs having an overhanging shelf portion 256. A stud member 25'! is fixed" to andprojectsdownwardly through each shelf'portion 253 and supports a compression spring 258, the lower run of which is adapted torest upon a laterally projecting shelf" portion 254. It will be noted that one oftheshel-E portions 254 extends laterally from the upper end ofith upwardly extending leg 2&5 of V- bracket 244 which supports the belt pulley 21 1 andthe. othershelf portion 25G extends laterally from the upwardly extending leg 25!! and the-V bracket=2t3 which supportsbeltpulley 2 l5. Thus th coil compression springs 258 exerta predetermined downward pressure upon the re pectivebelt wheels 216 and 2H; so that the lower run of the upper-belt 1H5 will press against the upper-sum faoeof'the work-piece with a predetermined pressure. A threaded stop bolt 259 may be threaded through each of the laterally projecting shelf pontions. 25%, so that the lowerend thereof'will bein." a position to abut the adjacent laterally project-h species l ing shelf portions 254 of the V-brackets 244 and 249, respectively, so that the respective belt pulleys 2I6 and 2 Il cannot be raised beyond a prede-i termined point.

It is also desirable that pressure be exerted upon the lower run of the upper feed belt 2E5 at the points between the spaced belt pulleys 2I6 and 2H. For this purpose, a pair of spaced pulley wheels 26!] are provided in which the lower run of the belt 215 is guided. Each of the paired belt wheels 25Iiare fixed to one end of a shaft 26l rotatably mounted on one end of a supporting arm 262, the arm 262 being pivotally mounted upon a stud 263 projecting laterally from the horizontal supporting bar 2 32. It will be noted that the paired belt wheels 2% are posi! tioned on one side of the supporting bar 242 and that their respective shafts 260 extend under the supporting bar M2, and out of contact therewith. A pressure roller 265 is fixed to the opposite end of each shaft 2$l and is positioned on the opposite side of the supporting bar 242, as shown more particularly in Fig. 17. The rollers 265 are of such diameter that they will roll against the upper surface of the work-piece and be driven by the belt wheels 269. It will be noted that a vertical line extending through the axis of the work tool T will extend between the peripheries of the paired belt wheels 269 and the associated paired rollers 2'65. The rollers 265 serve to prevent vibration of the work-piece as it is advanced between the adjacent runs of the belts 290 and 2I5 and operated upon by the work tool T.

Means are provided for exerting a predetermined downward pressure upon the shafts 26I,

which support the paired belt wheels 26D and the rollers 265. Such means may comprise a U- shaped saddle member 251 having spaced legs which straddle the horizontal extending supporting bar 5: 22. Each leg of the saddle member 251 is provided with pair of boss portions 258 through which the shaft 253 extends. A pair of stud bolts 2' extend vertically from the horizontal supporting bar 242 and are each provided with an adjustable nut 274 which supports a horizontal cross bar 2l2. The cross bar 212 is held in position by a nut 273 threaded over the threaded end of each of the stud bolts 2'. A pair of fixed studs 215 project downwardly from the cross bar 212, each stud 2'i5 carrying a compression spring 216 adapted to press against the web 259 of the saddle member 267. Thus it will be noted that the coil springs 216 exert a predetermined downward pressure upon the saddle member 251 and upon the paired shafts 26 I rotatably supported in the boss portions 268 of the saddle member. By adjusting the position or elevation of the cross bar 212, the downward pressure exerted on the rollers 265 by the compression springs 216 may be adjusted as desired, so that the rollers 265 will exert a predetermined downward pressure on the work-piece advanced by and between the feed belts 200 and 2I5.

The feed mechanism illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18 may be conveniently associated with the automatic machine without in any manner interfering with the operation of the tracking rollers I5 and I6 or other mechanism for controlling the cutting or grooving operations to be performed on the work-piece. The feed mechanism above described may be associated with any desired conveyor or support for the work-piece, the supporting trackways use and it! being shown merely as illustrative of one form of work-piece support which may be used.

It will be appreciated that the automatic line forming machines herein described may carry and support any desired form of work tool, which can be suitably attached to the end of the work shaft I. For example, work tools comprising a grooving wheel T, circular saw T sanding or grinding wheel T and other types of rotary tools may be attached to the work shaft I to perform their assigned line operations on the work-piece. Welding and soldering operations may also be performed by attaching a suitable seam welding or seam soldering head T to the end of the work shaft I, in which event the work shaft I would not be rotated. Striping tools and wheels T adapted to apply strips of liquid or paste to the work-piece may also be attached to the work shaft I, the work shaft I being driven or not driven as the particular tool requires. Therefore, it will be appreciated that this improved machine is adapted to perform line operations on Workpieces made of various materials by applying the selected work tool to the work shaft I, with the assurance that the line of operations performed on the work-piece will be properly located and extend the desired distance along the work-piece, and will be properly spaced from the ends of the work-piece, or intermittently spaced from each other as desired. It will also be appreciated that a plurality of spaced work tools may be attached to the work shaft I, so as to simultaneously apply a plurality of line operations to the work-piece. The machine may also be equipped with a plurality of work shafts I each supporting one or more work tools, each shaft being operatively connected to the sameor separate control mechanisms as above described. The automatic line forming machine as above described is adapted to be associated with any desired stationary or movable feed table or conveyor, and is designed and adapted to perform line operations on workpieces with accuracy and precision, and at high production speeds with the minimum of attention by the operator.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

W hat is claimed is: V

1. An automatic line forming machine including in combination, a rotatably mounted work tool, means for substantially continually rotating said work tool, means for supporting a work-piece adjacent the work tool, resilient means for normally retaining the work tool in spaced inoperative relation to the work-piece, power means for automatically moving the work tool into operative engagement with the work-piece, a power control device associated with said power means, an adjustably mounted rocking bar for manipulating said control device, and tracking rollers adjustably mounted on said rocking bar, said tracking rollers being positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the predetermined advance movement of the work-piece.

2. An improved machine automatically operative to apply line formations of predetermined length to work-pieces including in combination, a

17" the, work-piece advanced on said Support, a, fluid pressure cylinder,,a piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, means associated with said cylinder whereby fiuid pressure applied to the piston will exert a predetermined downward pressureon the work holder to place the work tool in operative position with res set to the work-piece, av

control valve for regulating the flow of fluid to said air cylinder, and means manipulated by the advance movement of the work-piece for automatically controlling'said valve, said means including a control rod connected to said valve,

and a pa r of pivotally mounted tracking rollers operatively connected to said control rod, said. tracking rollers being manipulated by the advance movement of the work-piece.

3.v An improved machine automatically operas tive to apply line formations of predetermined length of work pieoes including in combination, a work tool, means for movably supporting said work tool, a support on which the work-piece may be advanced adjacent said work tool, power means operative. to move the work tool into operative engagement with the work-piece advanced on said support, and means for automatically controlling said power means accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece, said means including a pivoted lever operative to throw said power means into and out of operation, a rocking bar pivotally mounted on said lever, and a pair of tracking wheels adjustahly mounted on said rocking bar operative to manipulate said rocking car and pivot lever in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece.

a. An improved machine automatically opera-.-- tive to apply line formations of predetermined length to work pieces including in combination, a work tool, means for movably supporting said work tool, a continuous conveyor for advancing work-pieces adjacent work tool, resilient means for normally retaining the work tool in spaced inoperative relation to, the work-piece, power means operative to move the work tool into operative engagement with the work-piece while advanced on s'id' conveyor, and means for automatically controlling said power means in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece, said means including a pivoted lever operative to throw said power means into and out of operation, a rocking bar pivotally mounted on said lever, a pair of tracking wheels adjustably mounted on said rocking bar, and track sections of predetermined length associated with said conveyor along which said tracking rollers may roll to manipulate said rocking-bar and pivot lever.

5. An improved machine automatically operative t apply line formations, of predetermined.

length. to -workpieces including in combination, a work shaft, power means for rotating; said work shaft, a work tool, for adiustahly securing said work tool to said workshaft, means for move ably supporting said. work shaft and associated work tool, a continuous conveyor for advancing;

work-pieces adjacent said work tool, resilient means for normally retaining the. work tool in;

spaced relation tothe work-piece, power means operative to move the work tool into operative engagement with the work-piece while advanced on said conveyor, and means for automatically controlling said power means in accordance with the advance movement or" the work-piece, said means including a control rod for throwing said power means into and out of operation, a. pivoted lever having the movable end thereof in engagement with said controlrod, a rocking; bar pivotally mo nted on said lever, a pair-of trackin wheels adjustably mounted on said rocking" bar, and track-sections of predetermined length associated with said conveyor along which said trackin rollers may roll to manipulate said rocking; bar, pivot lever and control rod.

6. An automatic line forming machine includ-- ing in combination, a work tool adapted to apply' a selected line formation to the work-piece, a; movahly mounted; holderfor the work tool, control mechanism, for automatically moving the work holder to manipulate the work tool into and out of operating engagement with the workpiece during advance of the work-piece ad acent the work tool, said control mechan sm including res silient means for moving, the tool holder in one direction, power means for moving the tool holder in the opposite direction, a power control device associated with said means, tracking means operatively connected to said control device positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece to thereby manipulate said control device, and adjustable means associated with said tracking means for regulating the length of the line formation applied to the work-piece.

7. An automatic line forming machine including in combination, a work tool, a movably mounted holder for the work tool, a support for the work-piece along which the work-piece may be advanced adjacent the work tool, control mechanism for automatically moving the tool holder to manipulate the work tool into and out of'operative engagement with the work-piece in predetermined relation to the advance movement of the workpiece, said control mechanism including resilient means for normally moving the tool holder into inoperative position, power means for moving the tool holder into operative position, a power control device associated with said power means, tracking means operatively connected to said control device positioned to be manipulated by the advance movement of the work-piece to thereby manipulate said control device, and adjustable means associated with said tracki xrneans for automatically regulating the length of the line formation applied to the work-piece.

8. An automatic line forming machine including in combination, a rotary work tool adapted to apply the selected line formation to the work piece, a movahly mounted holder for the work tool, means forrotating the work tool, a support for the work-piece along which the work-piecemay be advanced adjacent said rotary tool, control mechanism for automaticall moving the; tool holder to manipulate the rotating work tool.into-and out ofoperating engagement withthe: Work-piece during advance of the work-piece onsaid. sunnurt, said control mechanism in eludingresilient'meansfor normally moving the tool holderinto inoperative position, power means for moving the tool holder into operative position. a power control device associated with said power'mea-ns, adjustably mounted tracking rollers operatively connected to said control device, tracking rollers being positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece, and adjustable means associated with said tracking rollers for regulating the length and spacing of the line iormation pplied to he work-pi ce.

19. automatic line forming machine in! cluding in combination, a rotary work tool, a movahly mountedholdcr tor the W011i tool, me ns 19 for continuously rotating the work tool, mechanism for advancing the work-piece along a predetermined path adjacent the rotating work tool, control mechanism for automatically moving the tool holder to manipulate the rotating work tool into and out of operative engagement with the work-piece in predetermined relation to the advance movement of the work-piece, said control mechanism including resilient means for normally moving the tool holder into inoperative position, power means for moving the tool holder into operative position, a power control device associated with said power means, pivotally mounted tracking rollers operatively connected to said control device, said tracking rollers being positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece to thereby manipulate said control device, and adjustable means associated with said tracking rollers for automatically regulating the length of the line formation applied to the work-piece.

10. An automatic machine for cutting grooves of predetermined length in work-pieces including in combination, a grooving tool, means for supporting a work-piece adjacent the grooving tool, means for guiding the advance movement of the work-piece on said support, resilient means for normally retaining the grooving tool in spaced inoperative relation to the work-piece, power means for automatically moving the grooving tool into groove-cutting engagement with the workpiece, a power control device associated with said power means, a pivotally mounted rocking bar for manipulating said control device, resilient means for maintaining said rocking bar in inoperative position, and spaced tracking rollers adjustably mounted on said rocking bar, said tracking rollers being positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the predetermined advance movement of the work-piece to thereby manipulate said rocking bar and control device.

11. An automatic machine for cutting grooves of predetermined length in work-pieces, including in combination, a rotatably mounted grooving wheel, means for substantially continually rotating said grooving wheel, means for supporting a work-piece adjacent the grooving wheel, means for guiding the advance movement of the workpiece on said support, resilient means for normally retaining the rotating grooving Wheel in spaced inoperative relation to the work-piece, power means for automatically moving the rotating grooving wheel into groove cutting engagement with the work-piece, a power control device associated with said power means, a pivotally mounted member for manipulating said control device, resilient means for normally retaining said member in inoperative position, and spaced tracking elements adjustably mounted on said manipulating member, said tracking elements being positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the predetermined advance movement of the work-piece to thereby manipulate said pivotally mounted member and said control device.

12. An automatic machine for cutting grooves of predetermined length in work-pieces, including in combination, a grooving tool, a work holder for supporting the grooving tool, a support for the work-piece adjacent the grooving tool, resilient means for normally retaining the grooving tool in inoperative position with respect to the work-piece on said support, pressure means for moving the grooving tool into groove cutting engagement with the work-piece, and control means adapted to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece to automatically regulate and control said pressure means, said control means including a pressure control device associated with said pressure means, a pivotally mounted member for manipulating said control device, resilient means for normally maintainin said member in inoperative position, and spaced tracking elements adjustable mounted on said pivotally mounted member, said tracking elements being positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the predetermined advance movement of the work-piece to thereb manipulate said member and said control device.

13. An improved machine automatically operative to cut V-shaped grooves of predetermined length in work-pieces, including in combination, a grooving tool designed to cut V-shaped grooves of selected cross-sectional contour, a work holder for supporting the groovin tool, a support for the work-piece adjacent the grooving tool, re-

silient means connected to said work holde operative to normally retain the grooving tool in spaced inoperative position with respect to the work-piece advanced on said support, a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, means associated with said cylinder whereby fluid pressure applied to the piston will exert a predetermined downward pressure on the work holder to place the grooving tool into groove cutting position with respect to the workpiece, a control valve for regulating the flow of fluid to said air cylinder, and means for automatically controlling said valve, said last named means including a pivotally mounted member operatively connected to said control valve, and spaced tracking rollers adjustably mounted on said member positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the workpiece to thereby manipulate said member and said control device.

14. An improved machine automatically operative to cut V-shaped grooves of predetermined length in fibrous work-pieces including in combination, a grooving tool designed to cut V-shaped grooves of selected contour, a Work holder for supporting the grooving tool, a work-piece support ng conveyor adjacent the grooving tool, resilient means for normally retaining the grooving tool in spaced inoperative position with respect to the work-piece resting on said conveyor, power means operative to force the grooving tool into cutting engagement with the work-piece, control means to automatically control the operation of said power means, pressure rollers for reducing vibration of the work-piece when operated upon by the grooving tool, said control means including a power control device associated with said power means, adjustably mounted tracking rollers operatively connected to said control device and to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece, and resilient means normally maintaining said tracking rollers in inoperative position.

15. An improved machine automaticall operative to cut V-shaped grooves of predetermined length in fibrous work-piece including in combination, a grooving tool designed to cut V-shaped grooves of selected contour, a work holder for supporting the grooving tool, a work-piece supporting conveyor adjacent the grooving tool, resilient means for normally retaining the grooving tool in spaced inoperative position with respect to the work-piece resting on said conveyor, power means operative to force the grooving tool into cutting engagement with the work-piece, control 21 s means operative to automatically control the operation of said power means, pressure rollers for reducing vibration of the work-piece when operated upon by the grooving tool, said control means including a power control device associated with said power means, a pair of spaced pivotally mounted tracking rollers adjustably connected to said control device, said tracking rollers being psitioned to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece, and resilient means normally maintaining said tracking rollers in inoperative position.

16. An automatic machine for cutting V- shaped grooves of predetermined length in fibrous work-pieces including in combination, a grooving tool adapted to cut V-shaped grooves of selected contour, a movably mounted holder for the grooving tool, and control mechanism for automatically moving the holder to manipulate the grooving tool into and out of cutting engagement with the work-piece during advance of the work-piece adjacent the work tool, said control mechanism including resilient means for moving the tool holder in one direction, power means for moving the tool holder in the opposite direction, a power control device associated with said power means, and adjustably mounted tracking rollers operatively connected to said control devices, said tracklng; rollers being positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the Work-piece to thereby manipulate said control device.

22 tool, a movably mounted holder for the grooving tool, means for advancing the work-piece along a predetermined path adjacent the grooving tool, and means for automatically moving the tool holder to manipulate the grooving tool into and out of cutting engagement with the work-piece in predetermined relation to the advance movement of the work-piece, said means including a resilient spring element for normally moving the tool holder in one direction, power means for moving the tool holder in the opposite direction, a power control device associated with said power means, and spaced tracking means adjustably connected to said control device positioned to be manipulated in accordance with the advance movement of the work-piece to thereby manipulate said control device.

GLENN H. NORQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 469,977 Perrins Mar. 1, 1892 857,738 Karstens June 25, 1907 1,372,979 Norris Mar. 29, 1921 1,744,651 Lessor Jan. 21, 1930 1,897,049 Hawes Feb. 14, 1933 1,995,382 Fenton Mar. 26, 1935 2,214,450 Boehle Sept. 10, 1940 2,340,121 Hamilton Jan. 25, 1944 2,374,846 Thresh May 1, 1945 

